Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 4).djvu/26

 by the Cameronians, which had so little to support it, excepting their own headlong zeal. With these instructions, and with Cuddie as his attendant, Morton set forth towards the royal camp at all the risks which attend those who assume the office of mediator during the heat of civil discord.

Morton had not proceeded six or seven miles before he perceived that he was on the point of falling in with the van of the royal forces; and, as he ascended a height, saw all the roads in the neighbourhood occupied by armed men marching in great order towards Bothwell-muir, an open common, on which they proposed to encamp for that evening, at the distance of about two miles from the Clyde, on the farther side of which river the army of the insurgents was encamped. He gave. himself up to the first advanced guard of cavalry which he met, and communicated his wish to obtain access to the Duke of Mon-